Display assemblies incorporating electric vehicle charging equipment

Abstract

A display assembly with integrated electric vehicle charging equipment includes a first and second side assembly connected to a structural frame, each including an electronic display subassembly located behind a cover. The electric vehicle charging equipment is connected to the structural frame between said first and second side assemblies in an at least partially recessed manner. Open or closed loops of air may be provided for cooling the first and second side assemblies and the electric vehicle charging equipment, which may all be connected to a common power source.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A display assembly with integrated electric vehicle charging equipment, said
 display assembly comprising: 
 a structural frame; 
 a first side assembly connected to a first side of said structural frame, said first side assembly comprising a first cover and a first electronic display subassembly located behind said first cover; 
 a second side assembly connected to a second side of said structural frame, said second side assembly comprising a second cover and a second electronic display subassembly located behind said second cover; 
 said electric vehicle charging equipment connected to said structural frame between said first side assembly and said second side assembly in an at least partially recessed manner; 
 an additional equipment cavity located be low, and at least partially between, said first side assembly and said second side assembly; and 
 one or more components for operating said electric vehicle charging equipment located within said additional equipment cavity. 
 
     
     
       2. The display assembly of  claim 1  wherein:
 said electric vehicle charging equipment is fully recessed between said first side assembly and said second side assembly when an electric vehicle connection portion of said electric vehicle charging equipment is docked at said display assembly. 
 
     
     
       3. The display assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a common cavity between said first side assembly and said second side assembly; 
 a closed loop airflow pathway for circulating gas comprising a first portion extending within said first side assembly, a second portion extending within said second side assembly, and said common cavity; and 
 a housing for at least some of said electric vehicle charging equipment, wherein said housing is at least partially recessed into said common cavity. 
 
     
     
       4. The display assembly of  claim 3  further comprising:
 at least one loop airflow pathway for ambient air. 
 
     
     
       5. The display assembly of  claim 4  wherein:
 said at least one open loop airflow pathway comprise a first open loop airflow pathway extending through said first side assembly and a second open loop airflow pathway extending through said second side assembly. 
 
     
     
       6. The display assembly of  claim 5  further comprising:
 a common intake for said first open loop airflow pathway and said second open loop airflow pathway located at an upper portion of said first and second side assemblies; 
 a first exhaust for said first open loop airflow pathway; 
 a second exhaust for said second open loop airflow pathway; and 
 a common set of open loop fans located adjacent to said common intake, wherein said common set of open loop fans comprise centrifugal type fans oriented to distribute ingested ambient air into both of said first open loop airflow pathway and said second open loop airflow pathway when operated. 
 
     
     
       7. The display assembly of  claim 6  wherein:
 said centrifugal type fans of said common set of open loop fans are provided without a shroud about an impeller. 
 
     
     
       8. The display assembly of  claim 6  further comprising:
 a set of one or more closed loop fans located within said common cavity for moving said circulating gas through said closed loop airflow pathway when operated. 
 
     
     
       9. The display assembly of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a side panel located within said common cavity and oriented perpendicular to a front surface of said first side assembly and a front surface of said second side assembly, wherein each fan in said set of one or more closed loop fans are spaced apart vertically along said side panel. 
 
     
     
       10. The display assembly of  claim 5  wherein:
 said first electronic display subassembly comprises a first liquid crystal display layer and a first backlight; 
 said second electronic display subassembly comprises a second liquid crystal display layer and a second backlight; 
 said first open loop airflow pathway extends directly adjacent to the first backlight; and 
 said second open loop airflow pathway extends directly adjacent to the second backlight. 
 
     
     
       11. The display assembly of  claim 10  wherein:
 said first portion of said closed loop airflow pathway is located between said first cover and said first liquid crystal display layer of said first electronic display subassembly; and 
 said second portion of said closed loop airflow pathway is located between said second cover and said second liquid crystal display layer of said second electronic display subassembly. 
 
     
     
       12. The display assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a dedicated open loop airflow pathway through said additional equipment cavity. 
 
     
     
       13. The display assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first gasket provided at said structural frame between said structural frame and said first side assembly, wherein said first side assembly is moveably connected to said structural frame between a closed position where said first gasket is compressed between said first side assembly and said structural frame and an open position where an edge of said first side assembly is rotated away from said structural frame; and 
 a second gasket provided at said structural frame between said structural frame and said second side assembly, wherein said second side assembly is moveably connected to said structural frame between a closed position where said second gasket is compressed between said second side assembly and said structural frame and an open position where an edge of said second side assembly is rotated away from said structural frame. 
 
     
     
       14. The display assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a common power source for said first side assembly, said second side assembly, and said electric vehicle charging equipment. 
 
     
     
       15. The display assembly of  claim 14  wherein:
 a common power line or connection point for said first side assembly, said second side assembly, and said electric vehicle charging equipment. 
 
     
     
       16. A display assembly with an electric vehicle charging equipment and forced air
 cooling, said display assembly comprising: 
 a frame; 
 a first side assembly moveably connected to a first side of said frame and comprising:
 a first cover; 
 a first electronic display layer located behind said cover; and 
 a first backlight located behind said first electronic display layer; 
 
 a second side assembly moveably connected to a second side of said frame and comprising:
 a second cover; 
 a second electronic display layer located behind said second cover; and 
 a second backlight located behind said second electronic display layer; 
 
 one or more intakes; 
 one or more exhausts; 
 one or more interior channels extending within said frame and between said first electronic display layer and said second electronic display layer; 
 an open loop airflow pathway comprising each of said one or more intakes, said one or more interior channels, and said one or more exhausts; 
 one or more fans configured to move ambient air through said open loop airflow pathway when activated; 
 a cavity positioned between said first and second side assemblies; 
 said electric vehicle charging equipment; 
 a housing recessed within said cavity for accommodating an exterior portion of said electric vehicle charging equipment when docked; and 
 an additional storage area located below or between said first and second side assemblies for accommodating at least some components of said electric vehicle charging equipment; 
 wherein at least said first side assembly, said second side assembly, and said electric vehicle charging equipment is electrically connected to a common power supply. 
 
     
     
       17. The display assembly of  claim 16  wherein:
 each of said one or more fans comprise centrifugal type fans positioned adjacent to said intake, wherein said one or more centrifugal fans are configured to, when activated, ingest ambient air and distribute said ingested ambient air through each of said one or more interior channels; 
 each of said one or more fans are provided without an outer shroud about an impeller; 
 each of said one or more fans are located fluidly adjacent to said intake; 
 each of said one or more intakes are located at an upper portion of said frame; and 
 each of said one or more exhausts are located at a lower half of said frame. 
 
     
     
       18. The display assembly of  claim 17  further comprising:
 a closed loop airflow pathway comprising said cavity, a first portion extending through said first side assembly, and a second portion extending through said second side assembly. 
 
     
     
       19. The display assembly of  claim 18  further comprising:
 a first front gap located between said first cover and said first electronic display layer; 
 a second front gap located between said second cover and said second electronic display layer, wherein said closed loop airflow pathway comprises said first front gap and said second front gap; 
 one or more closed loop fans positioned within said cavity and configured to force circulating gas through said closed loop airflow pathway when activated, wherein said one or more closed loop fans each comprise centrifugal type fans provided without a shroud for disbursing said circulating gas within said cavity in a turbulent manner when activated; 
 a side panel located within said cavity and extending perpendicular to a front surface of said first cover and a front surface of said second cover, wherein each of said one or more closed loop fans are mounted, in a vertically spaced manner, to said side panel; and 
 electronic components for operating said display assembly positioned within said cavity. 
 
     
     
       20. A display assembly with integrated electric vehicle charging equipment, said
 display assembly comprising: 
 a structural frame; 
 multiple side assemblies, each moveably connected to different sides of said structural frame and comprising a cover, an electronic display layer located behind said cover, and a backlight for the electronic display layer; 
 a cavity located between said multiple side assemblies; 
 an airflow pathway through said display assembly comprising said cavity; and 
 a housing at least partially recessed within said cavity and defining an opening exposed to an exterior environment, wherein said housing accommodates an exterior portion of said electric vehicle charging equipment; 
 an additional storage are a located interior to said display assembly be low or at least partially between s aid multiple side assemblies, 
 wherein at least some components of said electric vehicle charging equipment are located at said additional storage area. 
 
     
     
       21. The display assembly of  claim 20  wherein:
 each of said multiple side assemblies and said electric vehicle charging equipment are electrically connected to a common power source through a common power line or point.